HID Radio Fuzz Gone! - LotusTalk

turbophil · 10-05-2008, 07:35 PM

Sorry no pics, but this is really easy. I had fuzz from the radio when the HIDs were on and despite how rarely I use the radio, I found this annoyance unacceptable. I stopped by the local auto parts store and purchased one of the ~18" long, $9 flexible antennas. I then insulated the metal base of the antenna with electrical tape so that it wouldn't come in contact with all the aluminum under the dash ( tried the mod without the insulation, but the grounding to the chassis killed all reception).

Pull the stereo, unplug the stock antenna, and plug in the new flex antenna. I found that flex antenna rec'd comparable reception as the stock antenna if I tucked it behind the airbag area in the dash. I then pushed the stereo and wiring back in the dash and I was done. 20 minute job and the HID radio fuzz is now gone...

Best,

Phil

CosmosMpower · 10-06-2008, 07:24 AM

Any pics of the antenna or something similar? Would Radioshack carry this? I take it the antenna had the right connector to plug straight into the back of the factory head unit?

turbophil · 10-06-2008, 08:20 AM

All the antennas have the same plug. The stock head unit has a universal adapter from factory already plugged into it that will accept any antenna you find...

The antenna is simply one of those cheesy rubber units that you see on circa mid 80's GM products that are still on the road today

I think just about every auto parts store carries them. You may have to play with the orientation of the antenna for a bit until you find its happy spot within the dash...

Best,

Phil

SweetDaddyD · 10-06-2008, 01:09 PM

I may have to try that.
I get NO radio reception with the HID's on.

CosmosMpower · 10-07-2008, 08:21 AM

Thanks for the tip I'll check it out. I get no radio reception with the HID's off either, well it's really hit or miss sometimes it's crystal clear but 90% of the time it's fuzzy to none.

turbophil · 10-07-2008, 08:28 AM

It helps for sure. There's now no difference between HIDs on or off. It took some fiddling to get the antenna positioned right in the dash so that it had good reception, but not that big of a deal. Again, I found that it worked best pointing to the passenger side behind the air bag. Recpetion is just as good (or bad

) as it was stock...

Cheers,

Phil

ZTEC · 10-07-2008, 08:31 AM

We have Radios?

Smitty · 10-12-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZTEC

We have Radios?

LOL, I was thinking the same thing. I once tried to use it and when I tried to scan to a station, the tuner kept looping and couldn't find a station. I figured the cars didn't have an antenna anywhere and that the antenna cable from the back of the head unit was some sort of sick joke.

MikeVR4 · 10-21-2008, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbophil

It helps for sure. There's now no difference between HIDs on or off. It took some fiddling to get the antenna positioned right in the dash so that it had good reception, but not that big of a deal. Again, I found that it worked best pointing to the passenger side behind the air bag. Recpetion is just as good (or bad

) as it was stock...

Thanks for this, Turbophil!

I bought a "Universal Rubber Antenna" CK-UT03R from Checker Auto Parts ($10.79 with military discount). Pulled the radio and plugged in new antenna, insulated the antenna's metal base with electrical tape, fiddled with the placement behind the passenger side airbag, and enjoyed the return of FM (and even AM!) reception with HIDs on!

MikeVR4

turbophil · 10-21-2008, 08:10 AM

Great, I'm glad it worked for you too!

It may not be a perfect solution, but it's certainly better than the stock setup if you're running HIDs

Best,

Phil

plastique999 · 11-04-2008, 11:02 PM

The HID buzz has been killing me at night....thanks for this mod, can't wait to do it!!!

shay2nak · 11-05-2008, 09:44 AM

You guys have interference on both FM & AM?

10-05-2008, 07:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
turbophil Plug Whisperer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kansas City/ Overland Park Posts: 2,544 Images: 6	HID Radio Fuzz Gone! Sorry no pics, but this is really easy. I had fuzz from the radio when the HIDs were on and despite how rarely I use the radio, I found this annoyance unacceptable. I stopped by the local auto parts store and purchased one of the ~18" long, $9 flexible antennas. I then insulated the metal base of the antenna with electrical tape so that it wouldn't come in contact with all the aluminum under the dash ( tried the mod without the insulation, but the grounding to the chassis killed all reception). Pull the stereo, unplug the stock antenna, and plug in the new flex antenna. I found that flex antenna rec'd comparable reception as the stock antenna if I tucked it behind the airbag area in the dash. I then pushed the stereo and wiring back in the dash and I was done. 20 minute job and the HID radio fuzz is now gone... Best, Phil __________________ \| '05 GG LSS Elise \| A Track Chariot \| BOE ClamHinge \| BOE TVS SuperCharger 280whp/180wtq \| EFI Standalone Engine Management \| BOE Fuel Surge System \| BOE Lotus Tow Package See my car at BOE Fabrication: www.boefabrication.com *----->Last Updated: 9/25/2009* If something ain't worth doing right, it ain't worth doing... *Whoever thought working on a Lotus is hard, clearly hasn't tried it. Pick up a wrench and get some grease under your nails*

10-06-2008, 07:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
CosmosMpower Cone Magnet Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 2,029	Any pics of the antenna or something similar? Would Radioshack carry this? I take it the antenna had the right connector to plug straight into the back of the factory head unit? __________________ 06 Canyon Red Elise LSS, Touring, SS, Stg 2, HID, BWR swaybar 09 Mini Cooper S 6MT 2000 Grand Prix White S2000

10-06-2008, 08:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
turbophil Plug Whisperer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kansas City/ Overland Park Posts: 2,544 Images: 6	All the antennas have the same plug. The stock head unit has a universal adapter from factory already plugged into it that will accept any antenna you find... The antenna is simply one of those cheesy rubber units that you see on circa mid 80's GM products that are still on the road today I think just about every auto parts store carries them. You may have to play with the orientation of the antenna for a bit until you find its happy spot within the dash... Best, Phil __________________ \| '05 GG LSS Elise \| A Track Chariot \| BOE ClamHinge \| BOE TVS SuperCharger 280whp/180wtq \| EFI Standalone Engine Management \| BOE Fuel Surge System \| BOE Lotus Tow Package See my car at BOE Fabrication: www.boefabrication.com *----->Last Updated: 9/25/2009* If something ain't worth doing right, it ain't worth doing... *Whoever thought working on a Lotus is hard, clearly hasn't tried it. Pick up a wrench and get some grease under your nails*

10-07-2008, 08:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
CosmosMpower Cone Magnet Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 2,029	Thanks for the tip I'll check it out. I get no radio reception with the HID's off either, well it's really hit or miss sometimes it's crystal clear but 90% of the time it's fuzzy to none. __________________ 06 Canyon Red Elise LSS, Touring, SS, Stg 2, HID, BWR swaybar 09 Mini Cooper S 6MT 2000 Grand Prix White S2000

10-07-2008, 08:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
turbophil Plug Whisperer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kansas City/ Overland Park Posts: 2,544 Images: 6	It helps for sure. There's now no difference between HIDs on or off. It took some fiddling to get the antenna positioned right in the dash so that it had good reception, but not that big of a deal. Again, I found that it worked best pointing to the passenger side behind the air bag. Recpetion is just as good (or bad) as it was stock... Cheers, Phil __________________ \| '05 GG LSS Elise \| A Track Chariot \| BOE ClamHinge \| BOE TVS SuperCharger 280whp/180wtq \| EFI Standalone Engine Management \| BOE Fuel Surge System \| BOE Lotus Tow Package See my car at BOE Fabrication: www.boefabrication.com *----->Last Updated: 9/25/2009* If something ain't worth doing right, it ain't worth doing... *Whoever thought working on a Lotus is hard, clearly hasn't tried it. Pick up a wrench and get some grease under your nails*

10-06-2008, 01:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
SweetDaddyD BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ATL, GA Posts: 7,644 Images: 2	I may have to try that. I get NO radio reception with the HID's on.

10-07-2008, 08:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
ZTEC Third Eye Open Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 1,737 Images: 3	We have Radios? __________________ GO: Vision Function Stage II Intercooled Bliss with Charlie's ECU magic and Ronin's Tenacity! STOP: DBA 4000's, Porterfield R4! TURN: Nitron S/A's Toyo RA1's 225/245 on Rota's!

10-21-2008, 08:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
turbophil Plug Whisperer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kansas City/ Overland Park Posts: 2,544 Images: 6	Great, I'm glad it worked for you too! It may not be a perfect solution, but it's certainly better than the stock setup if you're running HIDs Best, Phil __________________ \| '05 GG LSS Elise \| A Track Chariot \| BOE ClamHinge \| BOE TVS SuperCharger 280whp/180wtq \| EFI Standalone Engine Management \| BOE Fuel Surge System \| BOE Lotus Tow Package See my car at BOE Fabrication: www.boefabrication.com *----->Last Updated: 9/25/2009* If something ain't worth doing right, it ain't worth doing... *Whoever thought working on a Lotus is hard, clearly hasn't tried it. Pick up a wrench and get some grease under your nails*

11-04-2008, 11:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
plastique999 Form and Function Join Date: May 2008 Location: Alta Loma, CA Posts: 3,046	The HID buzz has been killing me at night....thanks for this mod, can't wait to do it!!! __________________ www.FaceNBody.com 2005 Lotus Elise: 2bular decat\GT3 exhaust,HID's,turn signal&rear fins delete, CFside scoops, CFbinnacle,CFcenter console,Zoom CF mirror,APR Aero kit,CF 5-elem. diffuser,Exige mesh,Ohlins DA,RTD brace,RAC 'lites,Toyo R888's,HawkHT10's,CO painted calipers,SS lines,Reverie XC CF seat,Reverie CF steering wheel,Schroth Profi II 6 pt harness,shifter re-Enforcer,Manly mounts, Accusump,Moroso pan,BWR key to BWR S/C! Spec Racer Ford #237

11-05-2008, 09:44 AM	#12 (permalink)
shay2nak I <3 chicken, I <3 liver Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Land of da 1000 Oaks, CA Posts: 15,053	You guys have interference on both FM & AM? __________________ save ~10 lbs gain 1 hp EQ: Y=(190X) / (1984-X) where Y is (HP) and X is (lbs) '07 EXIGE S * MY CAR ** VIDEOS! '08 ACURA TSX 6-speed http://www.makeNYNYagain.com

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